Major flooding hits North Jersey in latest storm

UPDATE: More flooding. See how much rain fell in North Jersey

A Sunday night storm left North Jersey with another bout of flooding as thunder and lightning accentuated the latest severe weather.

The National Weather Service predicted at least 2 inches of rain from the storm for much of the region, but the rapidity of the storm added to the flooding problems. A flood watch was issued prior to the storm.

Flooding was reported on a number of highways in the region including Route 3 in Clifton, the Garden State Parkway in East Orange, Route 23 in Butler and more, according to the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

Clifton also saw flooding along a street that's adjacent to the Garden State Parkway, Urma Avenue in the Richfield section.

Richfield area resident Gina Scaduto reported that portions of Urma had as much as 2 feet of water and she also witnessed portions of the Third River jumping its banks as well as along Clifton Avenue, near the senior housing area, which is another frequently inundated area in the city.

In Passaic, Mayor Hector Lora reported that sections along Main Avenue, including Tennyson Place, Brook Avenue and Broadway, and along Passaic Avenue by First Street and Lackawanna were also closed.

The portion of Brook Avenue is a concern because in the past several people have been swept into the culvert that leads to the Passaic River. In 2021, the city lost two residents who were caught up in the storm runoff associated with the remnants of Hurricane Ida. Another casualty during Ida came when a Clifton man car got caught in his car underneath a bridge along Van Houten Avenue.

Lora said they are better prepared. The intersections are closed off and stationed by rescue personnel.

"There are no persons stuck in cars," Lora said. "The cars that have been disabled, the  occupants are out of their cars and safe."

The city has also made improvements to drainage in and around Brook Avenue culvert and reduced the amounts of impervious surface.

Sunday evening torrential storms once again brought flash flooding to the usual areas in and around the Passaic and Peckman rivers.

In Paterson, Mayor Andre Sayegh said the city was getting its share of flash flooding with roads or portions of roads closed along River Street, Fifth Avenue (between Waite Street and Sixth Avenue), Getty and Beckwith avenues, Bridge, Main and Levine streets.

"We have already contacted DPW of the flooding locations and they are responding with barricades," Sayegh said around 9 p.m. Sunday.

In Woodland Park, Mayor Tracy Kallert, reported that the parking lots by Kohls and Best Buy were flooding and portions of Andrew's and Memorial drives as well as Lackawanna Avenue have been closed.

"We are putting out our alerts now," Kallert said around 8 p.m. Sunday.

Pine Street in Montclair was also under water.

Sunday's flooding comes not long after flooding earlier this month around the time Tropical Storm Debby remnants hit the region.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Flooding in North Jersey closes highway lanes, causes issues